Stakeholders from faith-based organisations, religious leaders, people living with and affected by HIV, civil societies, youth development and implementing partners said increased funding is required from the private sector to scale prevention, care and treatment of the disease.
The stakeholders included; the World Council of Churches (WCC) ViiV Healthcare, NINERELA+ and others.
Speaking at a multistakeholders dialogue in the federal capital territory on Wednesday, speakers expressed concern over the 48,000 new infections recorded in Nigeria, according to NACA data of 2024.
“We are worried that at a time when scientific advances such as long-acting injectables for prevention and treatment offer transformative potential in ending the HIV pandemic, we face the risk of limited access without urgent and equitable scale-up,” a communique issued at the dialogue stated.
“We urge the private sector increase continuous funding and technical support and help sustain innovate financing,” the communique also said.
The stakeholders also called for a collective effort to increase awareness on the reality of the HIV pandemic, promote stigma-free and inclusive communities and promote equitable access to scientific innovations.
While urging various communities in Nigeria to further the awareness of HIV among them by engaging in programme design, delivery and accountability, the stakeholders also reaffirmed their commitment to ending HIV new infections and AIDS as a public health threat.
